Rat-trap



B. PARKER AND W. F. WILLIAMS.

RAT TRAP. Y APPLICATION FILED .IULYI3| I9I8- 1,345,227. PatentedJune 29, 1920.

UNITED STATE'SY` PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN BARKER'AND WILLIAMIFERRIOR w-ILLIAivIs,` oEYWARooNA, WESTERN Y AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA.

` RAT-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.` i Patented June 29, 1920.'

Application inea Juiyia, 191s.` seriaLNo. 244,767.

To all whom #may concern:

Be it known that we, BENJAMINPARKER and WILLIAM F minion lVILLIAMs, both subjects of4 His Majesty the King of Great Britain, residing at Varoona, Western Australia, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rat-Traps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention as-its title implies provides a deviceA of an improved and novel character andconstruction principally for the trappingof rats, mice,.rabbits, hares and other such like animalsy andthe device is also applicable for the dipping and washing of sheep andsuchlike pu.rposes.` By

i this invention we attain the ,following advantageszl. The initial means for operatingthe trap are of a delicate and sensitive construction with the vresult that the action of trapping, is silent andinstantaneous andV avoids suspicion and fear by the victims. 2. The bait while visible to the intended victiin remains intact andfree from interference or contact by said victims.v 3. VThe victims are trapped alive and withoutmutilation which in the' case ofzrabbits orhares is desirable for commercial reasons.. l. The trap by the one and same continuous move ment and operation is returned to its normal or trapping position. These and other1 advantages will be apparent from the following explanation of the use and construction of the trap aided by the attached drawings wherein Figure -lis a front elevation of the trap in position foi` use. Fig. -2 is a plan thereof with a portion of the revoluble door removed. Fig. 3^n is an end view showing by directional arrows and broken lines the revoluble door in its open or trapping position. Figs. 3a and 3", respectively, represent a detail end elevation and a detail side elevation of parts of the improved trap. Figs. 4L and 5 are plan and side views of an alternative construction of the initial operative member showing same of a divided and flexible diaphragm construction. Referring to said drawings a is the foundation frame of the trap whereby saine is adapted to be placed over the mouth of the pit or prison a into which the victims are precipitated by the release and rotation of the door. This door b is carried on the central hinge rod b1 and mounted in bearings as b2. On this hinged rod b1 is' coiled a tensionalspring c whose-purpose is tov energize the doorv b and urge it to the` revoluble` position seen in Fig. -3 when refleased by the depressible detente.

This tensional spring c: is wound up byv the handle c1 and the door is maintained in its energized condition by the retention spring c2 which is coiled around the handle end and suitably anchored to the frame` a. This spring c2 prevents any back or return movement of the doorl Z2. On said door and at an approvedv position near to they bait. .fcthe resilient depressible plate d" is flexibly and hingedly secured to therevolur ble door by screws all. This plate acts as the agent for the initial release of the door and operation of the. trap-said plate being.

depressiblev byV thepressure; thereon vor contact therewith of the victim.` This-plate l carries a projectional pinor detentewhich` in operativecontact with the detent .pin e..

This lever carries a down arm y' formedwith a rectangular terminal lug jl on which the door is retained in its horizontal or normal position by means of a pin 7'2 suitably projecting from the inner edge of the door. As soon as the lever is returned by the weight /iil to the home position seen in Fig. -land in full lines as in Fig. 3 it rests thereat and against the stop pin ja.

At the rear of the wall g2 and immediately behind the therein opening m is removably suspended the bait box m1 by the wire cradle frame fm? Vsaid frame having the legs n whereby said box is firmly held in proper position. The bait as is exposed and held between the wires m2 and behind the openand upon the rat or other victim makingl contact with or pressure upon the de pressible plate as d or jJ-fr the Contact pin e or y thereupon releases the lever g and allows it to swing outwardly and thereby release the revoluble door b by the Withdrawal of the lug j1 of the arm j and by reason of the tensional and energizing spring c oi' the door b is instantaneously revolved as seen in broken lines in Fig. 3 thus precipitating the victim down into the prison a1. rlhe lever g by its weight c1 is returned to its home position and the retention lug j1 ready to engage with the pin j2 for the retention of the door I) in its normal position as seen in Figs. l and 3 for thel trapping of the next victim.

The spring c2 acts simply as an auxiliary movement counteracting means relatively to f' the door b when the latter is released and springs open to prevent any swinging movement of the said door, and particularly obstructing continuous rotating spring relaxing movement of said door when opened to such an extent as to cause' the trapped ani ymal to fall therefrom, and thereby avoid uneffecting a clearance of the said lug from the tendency of the springs c to open the door. Y

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a trap of the class specified, the combination of a foundation frame having an opening therein, a door mounted in the said opening to normally close the latter and having springs (zo-acting therewith to set up an automatic opening operation of the door when the latter is released, the door having projecting means at one side, a weighted lever mounted to swing relatively to the door and frame and provided with arms, one of which has a lug to engage under the projection of the door and hold the latter closed against the tendency of the opening movement of the springs thereof, a counter-acting spring to retard rotation of the door when the latter is released, a yielding pressure plate mounted on the door and operative by lthe Weight of the animalthereon, said pressure plate having a projection to bear upon the free end of the remaining arm of the lever, and a bait holding means disposed adjacent to the said pressure plate.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN PARKER. WILLIAM FERRIOR WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

RICHARD SPARROW, U. W. BURKE. 

